Cupertino-based company Apple is constantly looking forward to improve their devices, as recently, they have acquired a display laboratory in Taiwan, which previously belonged to Qualcomm, in order to develop a new, low-power display technology, as stated by Apple Insider.
It seems that Apple’s main purpose is to make “products thinner, lighter, brighter and more energy-efficient”, using a technology called IMOD, standing for Interferometric Modulator Display.
A whole team was recruited for the laboratory
Besides the facility, the company has also recruited at least 50 engineers and talent from display maker AU Optronic Corp. and Qualcomm. Still, there’s no activity in the area right now, but an the logo and an iMac were spotted at the reception area, “displaying Apple’s standard visitor registration screen.”
It seems that a reporter from Bloomberg wanted to know more about the new facility, but neither the receptionist or security guards wanted to comment when asked about the place’s new ownership. Still, the building is indeed registered to Apple Taiwan, according to government records. Also, all the staff was wearing Apple badges.
Apple doesn’t want to work with third-party suppliers anymore
The actual reason why Apple bought the laboratory is to reduce its ‘dependency’ on the technology developed by third-party suppliers, like Samsung Electronics Co., LG Display Co., Japan Display Inc. and Sharp Corp. Instead, they want to make to “develop the production processes in-house and outsource to smaller manufacturers such as Taiwan’s AU Optronics or Innolux Corp.”
Currently, the manufacturer is using LCD panels for Macs and iOS-powered devices, while their smartwatch is using an OLED display. The facility they have acquired is the same place where Qualcomm tried to developed its own panel, known as Mirasol.
The latter are known for using a different technology, compared to regular LCD-backlit panels or OLED, consisting in a microscopic mirror-like elements that can reflect light of a specific color and don’t require a backlight.
